Construction Prop Guide Groove Design for Anti-Rotation Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing props are not stable and user-friendly, and their production is costly.

Innovation Solution

A prop design featuring an outer tube with guide grooves for non-round profile and an inner tube with external threads and guide elements for rotational security, allowing longitudinal adjustment and preventing unwanted movement, made from steel alloys and produced through rolling processes for cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the outer tube is made with a circular profile for easy manufacturing, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the inner tube can rotate within the outer tube causing instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The outer tube is given a non-circular (oval or rectangular) cross-sectional profile instead of a circular one. This asymmetric shape prevents the inner tube from rotating within the outer tube while maintaining structural integrity and stability of the construction support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If the inner tube is allowed to rotate freely for ease of adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but rotational security is lost causing unwanted movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidrotational security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The non-circular profile of the outer tube creates an asymmetric constraint that prevents rotation of the inner tube. The inner tube's cross-section is shaped to match the outer tube's profile, allowing longitudinal adjustment while maintaining rotational security through the asymmetric geometric fit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Stability of the object's composition

If guide grooves are added to create a non-round profile for preventing rotation, then rotational security is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational securityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cross-sectional geometry parameters of the outer tube are changed from circular to non-circular (oval or rectangular). This parameter change achieves rotational security without requiring additional guide grooves or complex structural modifications, maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If the external thread extends over the greatest possible length for maximum adjustability, then range of adjustment is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability rangeVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The outer tube is divided into functionally distinct segments: a threaded section for longitudinal adjustment and a non-threaded section for structural support and guide groove formation. This segmentation allows the threaded portion to extend sufficiently for adjustability while preserving the structural integrity of the non-threaded portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3356618B1Construction support
Publication Date: 2022.04.27 DOKA GMBH
  • EP3356618B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3356618B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2b
  • EP3356618B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a construction support (2) comprising an outer tube (10) extending in a longitudinal direction (4), and an inner tube (12) arranged therein, extending in the longitudinal direction (4), adjustable in relation to the outer tube (10) in the longitudinal direction (4) and having an outer thread (20), characterised in that: the outer tube (10) is an uneven rolled tube; the outer tube (10) is provided with at least one guide groove (18) during roll-production, said guide groove extending in the longitudinal direction (4) and being open in the radially inward direction; the inner tube (12) is a round tube and has at least one guide element (24) protruding radially outwards, which engages in the radially inwardly open guide groove (18), such that the inner tube (12) is interlockingly anti-rotationally arranged in the circumferential direction (6) in the outer tube (10); an adjustment nut (14) is arranged in a longitudinal end region (16) of the outer tube (10) in a captive manner, yet such that it is rotatable in the circumferential direction (6), said adjustment nut having an inner thread (28) that can be screwed together with the outer thread (20) of the inner tube (12); and, by rotating the adjustment nut (14), the inner tube (12) can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction (4) relative to the outer tube (10), wherein the guide element (24) slides in the guide groove (18).